Relegation Clauses in Player Contracts

[Badonde]

Just been stalking the Norwich forum.
Came across the following interesting titbit.
They have just held their annual meeting.

There was criticism of Stuart Webbers recruitment and the man himself had the courage to stand up and admit mistakes were his responsibility. He also explained the difficulty of recruiting established Premier players when we had to include a 60% wage reduction if we were relegated. I expect we all wished it were different but wishing won't make it so.

IIRC it was reported when Boro last got relegated we didn't have relegation clauses in the player contracts?
I really don't know if this was true or not?

Surely it would be sensible if this became mandatory then we could look at getting rid of the parachute payments that spoil the competiveness in the Championship.
Perhaps mandatory isn't the right word.....after all in the mad capitalistic libertarian world of football anything goes, right?

 

[Frozen Horse]

Well as a player, if 2 clubs offer you the same contract, but the only difference is one contains relegation clauses, of course you're going to sign the one that guarantees the money.

2 points about making it mandatory:

It would need to be internationally agreed. If not, you'd be making playing In Germany or Spain more attractive than playing in England.

Would footballers unions be ok with it? I don't know the answer to this, but could it be regarded as an unnecessary restraint of trade?

 

[wilkos_perm]

Absolutely no way could you make it mandatory. Also I can why players would be massively put off by it. A 60% pay cut when potentially you may still perform well personally.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

Just been stalking the Norwich forum.
Came across the following interesting titbit.
They have just held their annual meeting.

There was criticism of Stuart Webbers recruitment and the man himself had the courage to stand up and admit mistakes were his responsibility. He also explained the difficulty of recruiting established Premier players when we had to include a 60% wage reduction if we were relegated. I expect we all wished it were different but wishing won't make it so.

IIRC it was reported when Boro last got relegated we didn't have relegation clauses in the player contracts?
I really don't know if this was true or not?

Surely it would be sensible if this became mandatory then we could look at getting rid of the parachute payments that spoil the competiveness in the Championship.
Perhaps mandatory isn't the right word.....after all in the mad capitalistic libertarian world of football anything goes, right?

I think it goes with the territory for clubs like ours, in that we need to make more attractive offers than other. more established clubs, or clubs in more fashionable areas of the country.

So its a judgement call I suppose - how much do you want the player? The bigger signings are less risky, because they are likely to move to another EPL club, if they do the business of course.

Making it mandatory? Not sure that would work, given that the EPL is the most competitive in Europe and other continental leagues have more clubs that are less likely to be relegated?

 

[Badonde]

Something has to stop the madness.
Take a look at recent years and how the Parachute Clubs get the promotions.

 

[Rofesleg]

It was Mowbray who was shocked that we didn't have relegation clauses when he took over.

 

[Badonde]

When Arsenal looked dodgy
Had a quick Google and found this - surely wrong though, how could you legally adjust current contracts

 

[Badonde]

Leeds
Everton
Stoke

If we ever do go up again I'm pretty sure we will have tightened up the contract clauses.
It would be crazy to take the risk not to do so, especially with our form up there

I think/hope that we have got much better at this side of the football business.
Like giving the young players such as Spence an extra year before letting them out on loan.
(does anyone know if we have an option with Coulson - he seems to be on fine form for Aberdeen but think he's in his last year?)
The extra year option on Akpom is looking a seriously good option now.
For too long we played the game like mugs.

 

[jeff_potato]

I imagine that any agent who advised their player to sign with such a clause would also insist on a relatively low value release clause, so that it'd be easy for the player to be signed by a club remaining in the higher division and then the agent gets a cut of a new signing on fee.

 

[LowMoorBoro]

I imagine that any agent who advised their player to sign with such a clause would also insist on a relatively low value release clause, so that it'd be easy for the player to be signed by a club remaining in the higher division and then the agent gets a cut of a new signing on fee.

Agree with this. Would this clause only be for the Premier League or would all English leagues require a clause?
If a team goes down from the Premier League and then relegated again (rare but has happened) from the championship is it another 60% cut?
All I could see it doing is driving up initial wage demands.